Lester Beall, Rural Electrification Administration posters 1937–1941

Lester Beall, "Light," REA, 1937. Black house on a blue and red background with a large lightbulb in the foreground.

Selections from the RIT Cary Graphic Design Archive

Date and Time

As a distingushed graphic designer in the early 20th century, Lester Beall was commissioned by the Rural Electrification Administration under the New Deal programs between 1939 and 1943 to create a series of posters demonstrating the benefits of electricity to those living in rural Appalachia. 10 of those posters are on now on view on the 2nd floor of Wallace Library. View more pieces of the Lester Beall Graphic Design Archive on our Digital Collections 

Image Gallery

Lester Beall, "Light," REA, The poster depicts a black house and a large white light bulb against a dark blue and red background. Silkscreen printing technique. 1937.
Lester Beall, "Radio," REA, The poster depicts a home receiving radio waves stylized as white arrows in the sky. Silkscreen printing technique. 1937
Lester Beall, "Running Water," REA, The poster depicts a large white water faucet on a gold and blue background, with three black arrows entering the faucet, and three black arrows leaving the faucet, simulating water flow. Silkscreen printing technique. 1937
Lester Beall, "Wash Day," REA, The poster depicts a black house with a white wringer-style washing machine inside, against a dark blue and gold background. From the right side, five white arrows point to the washing machine. Silkscreen printing technique. 1937
Lester Beall, "Power on the Farm," REA, The poster depicts a workman sharpening a knife on a motorized grindstone (black and white photograph silhouette), against a blue and white-striped background. Silkscreen printing technique. 1941
Lester Beall, "Boy and Girl on Fence," REA, The poster depicts a boy and girl standing on a field gate (black and white photograph silhouette) against a red, withe and blue flag-like background. Silkscreen printing technique. 1937
Lester Beall, "Things Look Better," REA, The poster depicts a farmer holding the head of a draft horse (black and white photograph silhouette), against a white and light green background. A red arrow point down towards the horse. Silkscreen printing technique. 1939
Lester Beall, "When I Look Back," REA, The poster depicts An old man seated in a rocking chair and turning on a radio (black and white photograph silhouette), against a white and gold background. Silkscreen printing technique. 1939